Sonic the Hedgehog 3 - (review)

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 provides an action-heavy extension that builds the mythology of the franchise and adds to it the themes of vengeance, friendship, and redemption. The episode also creates an emotional and complex new villain in Shadow a powerful, dark, and mysterious character who has a tragic past connected with the world of Sonic, though they have nearing nothing in common. High-octane battles and emotional moments come together perfectly in this film, particularly when Sonic learns that his enemy is not worth killing and that choosing vengeance and revenge will not help him to be a better person. The science-fiction, heroism elements, and personal loss expressed through the story produce a mesmerizing and multilayered adventure that did not allow me to quit until the end.

The most moving part was the investigation of the backstory of Shadow and the moral struggle of his, which add magnitude to the film in terms of emotion. The fact that he shifted through darkness with revenge feelings to a companion also conveys a strong message of forgiveness and power of love and connectivity. The evolvement of Sonic, himself, is also eminently appealing, with his maturing as a more responsible, hence more apparizing, character. The action scenes and most notably the moment when Sonic turns into Super Sonic and the fight against Shadow are a visual treat and they are moving as well so that the movie is not just a spectacle. The line between win and lose is real and the sacrifices the characters make weigh on the unreal plot.

As the pacing of the film is fast and full with twists, certain plot points may seem too convoluted, along with the complicated backstory of Shadow and the lore of the Eclipse Cannon. However, these scenes are balanced by the fact that the film is staged rather dynamically, there is character development and the film does pay off in emotion. The songs, especially the over-the-top Dr. Robotnik portrayed by Jim Carrey and the voice acting on Sonic, Tails, and Shadow add believability and humor to the plot. All in all Sonic 3 is an action packed emotionally impactful piece that brings out themes of love, loss and heroism to impact the viewer with reverberating themes of hope and courage in the face of that which could destroy.